Inflatable jet-propelled elastic toy



April 17, 1951 I cos- 2549 428 INFLATABLE JET PROPELLED ELASTIC TOYFiled Oct. 17, 194? 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 INVENTOR. Lozzzs bf'fl,

ATTEI RN EYE Apr-i5 17, 1951 .L. COSTEA 2,549,428

INFLATABLE JET PROPELLED ELASTIC TOY Filed Oct. 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet2 INVEN T ATTD R N EYS Aprii 1951 .L. COSTEA 2549,42

.INFLATABLE JET PROPELLEDYELASTIC TOY Filed Oct. 17, 1947 '3Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTU R N EYB Patented Apr. 17, 1951 Louis Costea, Brea,Calif.

Application October 17, 1947, Serial No. 780,392

2 Claims.

I 'My present invention relates to an improved inflatable jet propelledelastic toy and more particularly to the structure embodied thereinwhereby the craft formed to simulate various types of air and land orwater vehicles may be inflated and the craft released so that the jetexhaust of the compressed air through the rear orifice will propel thecraft, and whereby the novel and unique valve means for the orifice willactuate after a short delay to shut ofi the exhaust forcing the vehicleto continue in partially inflated condition along its directed course.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention according to the best mode Ihave thus far devised but it will be understood that various changes andalterations may be made in the exemplified structure within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the craft of myinvention in inflated and jet propelled condition;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the craft partially deflated and thevalve seated;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View partially in section, of theinvention as embodied in a'land vehicle;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the invention as embodied in a water bornecraft;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of thecraft in inflated position;

Figure 6 is a similar view of the craft partially deflated;

Figure '7 is-a transverse sectional view thereof;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a further modified form,and Figure 9 is a sectional view transversely thereof;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the form of Figure 8 inpartially deflated condition and Figure 11 is a transverse sectionalView thereof; a

and 2 of the drawings, the body' 2 is formed with a rear stabilizer 4and a cab 6 simulating a lighter than air craft and having a nose 8 anda rear exhaust orifice Ill, through which the body is also inflated. Thebody is constricted immediately adjoining the mouth as at l2, and therod [4 secured to the body through the nose has at its rear free end aresilient body valve Hi.

In operation, the body is inflated through the mouth or by othersuitable means such as an aspirator pump or other pressuring means if ahigher pressure is desired than can be obtained orally. Duringinflation, the length of the body is increased due to the structuralformation thereof, and the rod being of fixed length assumes theposition of Figure 1 with the valve removed from proximity to theorifice. The body is then released and the exhaust of air under pressurewill propel the body forwardly. As the pressure gradually decreases fromthe exhaust, the length of the body will decrease, and the valve restingupon the bottom of the body will ride up to the orifice and will finallyclose the orifice. as seen in Figure 2.

The body then partially deflated will continue to follow a courseforwardly, due to inertia, and will finally come to rest at the altitudeof the starting point, unless of course the propulsion is permitted tostart from anelevated point.

The body may then and repeatedly be inflated and released.

In Figure 3, I have illustrated the body of the craft of my invention assimulating a land vehicle having wheels I 8 on the axles 20, and in thisform I have shown the valve 24 connected to the nose of the vehicle by aflexible string 22 instead of the rod.

ribs 36 which may be of the selfsame material orv may be reinforced,either of which manner of ribs may be employed to control the inflationof the body transversely or longitudinally.

Also in the structure embodying the longitudinal ribs, although notnecessarily confined thereto, I have illustrated a further valveconnection including the vertically arranged flexible cord or string 38for the valve 40. In all of these difi'erent embodiments of thestructure of my invention, the principle is the same, namely, inflationof the body, release thereof, a short period of exhaust propulsion, andactuation of the valve stopping the exhaust, and the continued forwardmotion of the body.

In Figures 12 and 13, I have shown in detail how the valve ofcompressible material, such as rubber, will be forced into theconstricted portion of the body to seal the orifice and this seatedvalve will be unseated by the following inflation of the body.

Figures 14 through 17 show applications of the structure of my inventionto various types of aircraft and missiles, and the application forms ofthe principles of my invention are numerous.

From the above descriptionvof the construction and operation of thecraft of my invention it will be apparent that the toy will afiordamusement 1. An exhaust propelled craft comprising an expansible bodyportion, an exhaust portion extending therefrom and having an orifice, avalve means seating under contraction of the expanded body portion andunseating under expansion of the body portion to permit a limitedexhaust and substantially stifi means in said body portion and attachedto said valve means for directing the same into said orifice uponcontraction of said body portion.

2. The combination with an inflatable body expansible longitudinally andhaving an orifice at one end, of a valve for the orifice, a rodconnecting the valve to the opposite end of the body, the said valvebeing operable to close the orifice upon longitudinal contraction of theexpanded body.

LOUIS COSTEA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,206,867 Lewis Dec. 5, 19161,211,369 Miller Jan. 2, 1917 1,245,444 Creque Nov. 5, 1917 2,314,057Slotsky -1 Mar. 16, 1-943

